H
Hildegarda
Guest
I wanted to mention a beautiful animated movie we watched recently, "The Secret of Kells". Here is a YouTube link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw2_HZTuQBE), and here is its Amazon page (http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Kells-Brendan-Gleeson/dp/B0036TGSW6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288930473&sr=8-1).
The movie is based on historical events surrounding the creation of a celebrated illuminated manuscript, The Book of Kells (http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=536.0). We are looking at it all from a point of view of Brendan, a young boy growing up in Kells. The choice he is facing is between, on one hand, strife for safety, even if it means shutting yourself to the world, and on the other hand, free-flowing creativity and saving the knowledge to carry it over the end times. The first path is represented by Brendan's uncle, the abbot who is putting all his energy into building a wall around Kells to protect it from the Viking invasion. The second path is lead by brother Aidan, an illuminator who brings the unfinished book to Kells, and a forest fairy Aisling. Following the path of creativity, Brendan also discovers that one has to face his fears in order to be able to create. In the end, Brendan saves and completes the book, and brings it back to Kells to share with the people.
The story is a wonderful blend between Christian history and pagan mythology, and the 2D animation really brings it forth. It is styled after the Book of Kells itself, but also has obviously been influenced by anime. The music is original and beautiful. An Oscar nomination, in my view, is well-deserved.
Recommended for ages 8 and up. My youngest is 7 and I wouldn't go much younger then that. The Viking attack can be scary for a young child: I wouldn't call it "graphic violence" (it's not like a video-game with rag-doll effects and blood etc), but it is artistically very powerful.
The movie is based on historical events surrounding the creation of a celebrated illuminated manuscript, The Book of Kells (http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=536.0). We are looking at it all from a point of view of Brendan, a young boy growing up in Kells. The choice he is facing is between, on one hand, strife for safety, even if it means shutting yourself to the world, and on the other hand, free-flowing creativity and saving the knowledge to carry it over the end times. The first path is represented by Brendan's uncle, the abbot who is putting all his energy into building a wall around Kells to protect it from the Viking invasion. The second path is lead by brother Aidan, an illuminator who brings the unfinished book to Kells, and a forest fairy Aisling. Following the path of creativity, Brendan also discovers that one has to face his fears in order to be able to create. In the end, Brendan saves and completes the book, and brings it back to Kells to share with the people.
The story is a wonderful blend between Christian history and pagan mythology, and the 2D animation really brings it forth. It is styled after the Book of Kells itself, but also has obviously been influenced by anime. The music is original and beautiful. An Oscar nomination, in my view, is well-deserved.
Recommended for ages 8 and up. My youngest is 7 and I wouldn't go much younger then that. The Viking attack can be scary for a young child: I wouldn't call it "graphic violence" (it's not like a video-game with rag-doll effects and blood etc), but it is artistically very powerful.
